Pickering council says no to buying vacant school

Councillor disappointed community groups weren’t consulted

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School O'Connell outisde

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

PICKERING -- St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School was declared surplus by the school board last fall and the City of Pickering was given the chance to buy it. City staff have recommended against it, but Councillor Jennifer O'Connell says there is a shortage of urban land and recreation space in Pickering and that the opportunity shouldn't be passed up. February 10, 2014.

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Councillor Jennifer O’Connell had raised concerns about a City report that recommended bypassing an option to purchase St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Catholic School, which was declared surplus by the school board last fall.

She argued the property could be useful to community groups, citing a lack of available urban land.

However, other council members took issue with the estimated $1.8 million to $2 million cost of the land, and the fact that it wasn’t discussed as part of the 2014 budget process.

A motion to prepare a bid package for the site lost by a vote of 5-2 at council’s Feb. 24 meeting.

Coun. O’Connell says she is “extremely disappointed” by the decision, and maintains the City should have done more to assess the potential need for the property.

“There so many groups looking for space and we didn’t even reach out to them,” she says.

The 1.2-hectare school property is located at 1765 Meadowview Ave., adjacent to Shadybrook Park.